Why Should Brandon Body Shops Know Paintless Dent Repair?
They Can’t Replace Technicians
Mastering paintless dent repair takes years of practice on real body panels. Unsurprisingly, body shops aren’t always willing to hand these out to amateurs. While you can use sheet metal there’s no replacement for the real deal. Therefore true drive, talent, and education will always win over.
It Saves Room for the Big Jobs
Body shops have to work in the confines of a bay or warehouse so they’re pretty limited in space. If they need to use that space to fix a minor dent they could potentially lose out on a much bigger sale. Dent repair techs, however, are not restricted by space and can work from anywhere.
PDR is Much Faster and More Affordable
Paintless dent repair is and always will be far faster than conventional repair methods. Because Brandon body shops tend to prefer higher paying jobs they will often use traditional methods on a simple ding. This usually involves sanding, priming, and painting which is resource and labor intensive.
Why Don’t They Already Know it?
Learning Curve
Paintless dent repair isn’t easy to learn and it takes even more commitment to master. The steep learning curve involves some training, theory, and the willingness to adapt to a totally different mindset. Much of paintless dent repair revolves around a central feeling rather than an exact science.
Where to Learn it
Many aspiring PDR techs get stunted because they don’t know where to start. But learning PDR is easier now than it has ever been. The best way to start would be through a training course that’s somewhere between 2 and 5 weeks. Anything shorter than 2 weeks isn’t really worth your time or money.
Understanding the Tools
Access to the proper tools is essential to paintless dent repair. You can have all of the patience, skill, and training you want, but without a high quality set of tools you’re setting yourself up for failure. To further exasperate this issue good PDR tools are not cheap. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a Brandon body shop with a dusty old set of starter equipment.
You’ve probably seen the videos posted all over of quick convenient ways to turn everyday household junk into useful appliances. Platforms like Facebook and YouTube are huge repositories for this type of content. It’s only natural to always look for ways to be more efficient. But often times these videos cause more harm than good.
There is a common misconception that Do it Yourself means it requires no prior experience or skill, but with PDR that simply isn’t true. Paintless dent repair requires years of training to learn and even more to master. When ill experienced rookies get ambitious they create what we call a “DIY Disaster.”
What Happens When You Do it Wrong?
Many amateurs go into their first repair thinking “It’s just a little dent, what could go wrong?” when the answer is actually, a lot; a lot could go wrong. Our Brandon PDR team has seen too many bad jobs create tearing and paint chipping. This results in much higher rates and potentially a trip to the body shop (the last thing you wanted.) If you don’t want to put your vehicle through that kind of risk you’ll have to look elsewhere.
The Reliable Way to Do Brandon PDR
To put it simply, the best way to get the repairs you need is to hire a professional. If you have the training of a pro then of course you can fix your own dent. But if you don’t know the dent repair process like the back of your hand yet then call our Brandon PDR team today at 605-595-4061 for a free quote! Our rates and turnarounds are the best in the industry and no body shop can match up. We’ll make sure your car is back on the street looking its best in to time!
We all get dents from time to time. They’re ugly, annoying, and pretty much unavoidable. It’s just a sad fact of being a responsible driver. Whether you are looking for a convenient alternative to body shops or a fast way to keep your car looking its best always, our Brandon paintless dent repair team is the perfect answer for all levels of drivers. Our simple processes make for a quick and affordable solution for busy lifestyles and the non-invasive techniques are perfect for antique lovers. It truly has something to offer for everyone!
Maintain Resale Value – Body shops have to use fillers and auto paint to repair panels. This is much easier to detect than paintless dent repair and can lower the overall value of your car since you no longer have the original finish. Even if you can hardly tell the dent is there it still has an adverse effect on the long term value of your car.
It’s Fast – Paintless dent repair has a well established history of same day repairs. Body shops simply can’t compete because of their time intensive processes. In fact, you may end up needing a rental for several days to a few weeks before your repairs are done. While PDR can’t always provide same day service it is up to three times faster than competing methods.
It’s Affordable – It’s practically in the name. Paintless dent repair doesn’t require any extra materials; just the skills and talent of one technician, so you only pay for the repairs you receive. No more overpriced body shops!
Make the Eco-Friendly Choice – Traditional repairs use auto paints, fillers, and other environmentally-hazardous materials. Our Brandon paintless dent repair shop uses none of these. PDR works by massaging the metal exterior of your vehicle to restore its factory condition.
Everybody loves a new car. The smooth handling, flawless finish, clean interior. But there is one fatal flaw with every factory fresh vehicle: The price. The average rate for a new car in America hovers somewhere around $35,000-36,000. For most this is a pretty hefty chunk of change so you’ll be scrambling for every deal you can find. Then suddenly, you see it! The car of your dreams in all of its dimpled glory. Everyone sells their car for a reason. Maybe they need the extra cash for a new ride or they’re just looking to clear up some garage space. Regardless, it’s important to remember that all sellers have one goal in mind. To make money. That being said, here are a few reasons their Sioux Falls hail damaged car is being sold at such a discounted price.
The Damage is Too Severe
Hail can take a real toll on your car, often damaging windows or paint in the process. Rain water can leak through these cracks and cause much more severe internal damage that isn’t easy to detect. If the paint or windows are chipped be very cautious and have a few mechanics give you a damage estimate.
The Repairs Outweigh the Value
If the damage is minor most sellers will simply repair it and take the small loss. But if the repairs require repainting and body work then they will likely weigh the difference and cut their losses. That’s why many sellers don’t disclose damage costs; or at least why you shouldn’t trust their estimates right away. Which leads me to my next point.
Dealers Don’t Need to Disclose Damage
Dealers don’t need to disclose what it will take to repair the car within certain thresholds. This is actually a grey area for several reasons. Getting the damage appraised by two or three body shops is the best way to understand the true cost. Almost all of them offer free estimates.
Internal and External Damage
Paint jobs and repairs are expensive and dealerships know this. Most sellers in Sioux Falls would rather pull a fast one on somebody than let their car go to a paint shop. Especially if the work requires the time of two separate technicians.
Make Sure The Discount is Reflective of the Damage
Many sellers will offer you what sounds like a steal. $2000 off a $35,000 car, who wouldn’t love that?! However, it’s hardly worth it if the hail damage drops your ride’s value by $5000. You’re essentially losing out on $3000!
Insurance Coverage and False Claims
There are a handful of drivers that buy hail damaged cars in Sioux Falls just to take advantage of their insurance. Most do this by purchasing a car with hail damage, waiting for another storm, and filing their claim then. Unless your insurance company inspects your vehicle upon purchase it is very easy to get away with this. Unfortunately this makes it difficult to get a discount as well.
Vehicle Damage Reports
When you file a claim on your insurance that record is added to your vehicle damage report. This is sort of like a credit report that follows your car around no matter where it goes. If you file a claim on the damage right away it will be harder to get a discount on future damage. Luckily, Sioux Falls Dent Repair can fix hail damage without affecting your vehicle damage reports. Call us today at 605-595-4061 to learn more!
Consider the Diminished Value
It might seem obvious at first, but many drivers in Sioux Falls looking for a steep discount on a hail damaged car forget that, when they sell it, it is still a hail damaged car. Other buyers will want a discount just as much as you did so don’t expect a lot on the return value.
Remember, these tips are far from the only things you should watch for when buying a hail damaged car, but hopefully they are enough to get you started. As a sort of summary or basic guide here are a few highlights to keep in mind.
Nobody is trying to give you a discount. Everyone wants to make money so they’re selling that car at a low price for a reason. Your goal should be to find all of those reasons.
Make sure the numbers add up. Sellers can throw all of the bloated numbers and silver tongued estimates they want at you. But if you’re cautious and do all the math yourself you’ll be fine.
Check with your insurance providers before buying. You don’t want to be caught in a storm a few months later just to find out that your damage report is hold you back from filing a claim.
After driving your first clunker and adding up 200,000 miles it’s time to pick up a new car with a little less wear and tear. If you don’t care about a few dents and dings then hail damage can help you strike a huge deal on the car of your dreams. But there are a few important details to watch out for to prevent your new ride from becoming an expensive hunk of junk down the road. Call our Brandon hail repair team today at 605-595-4061 to learn more.
Watch Out For:
Cracked Paint – Modern cars use new urethane paints to protect its metal panels from the elements. This prevents rust and corrosion. If you are looking to buy a hail damaged car make sure none of the dents have chipped the paint. Afterward, check to see if the dings can be repaired with PDR. Our Brandon hail repair techs could save you a lot of money in the long run!
Broken Windows – Hail can easily crack or even shatter windshields. This can be very dangerous to the electronics in the car. If rain water leaks through the cracks it can damage the modules and center console. Make sure there is a warranty to protect the electrical system, even if the windshield was replaced.
How To Keep Hail Damage From Biting Back Later
So you’ve settled on the car, weighed the pros and cons, and are pretty sure you’re getting a good deal. Next, go see the car for yourself if you haven’t yet. Many sellers skew their information in shady practices. Repair estimates, service history, and the true damage could be intentionally misrepresented to make a quick buck. Here are a few steps you can take to be extra cautious of your purchase:
Get a quote from a Brandon hail repair team first. If the car is two grand and the repairs are twice that then you didn’t get a deal. You can get a free estimate by calling 605-595-4061.
Make sure the car is still eligible for comprehensive insurance. This will protect it from further damage.
If you want to finance the car make sure your lender will finance hail damage.